Kaleidoscope.



W. N. McGOMB.

KALEIDOSGOPE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1908. 1,034,478. Patented Aug.'6,1912.

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A7TORNEKY W. N. MGCOMB.

KALEIDOSCOPE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1908. 1,034,478.

INVENTOR William N. M Comb.

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KALEIDOSGOPB.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1908. 1,034,478. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

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WILLIAM NELSON McCOMB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KALEIDOSCOPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 8, 1908.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 442,462.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, lViLLIAM N. McCoiiB, citizen of the United States, and resident of borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kaleidoscopcs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in kaleidoscopes and has for its objects the production of a device of this character which may be made on a large scale, as for use in advertising, which will create interest and afford amusement and which will form an attractive display.

For the purpose of carrying out the invention I preferably employ a design carrying membcr which supports a plurality of groups of lamps, each group by itself forming a complete design, or the groups collectively, or in fact any number of groups collectively, producing a unitary and complete design or display effect. Reflectors or reflecting mirrors are mounted in front of the design carrying member and are adjustable so that the angular relation between v the two may be altered for the purpose of varying the number and shape of the images shown in such reflectors. Also, automatic selecting devices are employed for flashing the different groups of lamps. These selecting devices may be any of the well known flashing devices used by electric sign manufacturers, but we prefer to use arbitrary selecting devices to flash the lamps or groups of lamps in irregular order so as to produce constantly changing effects.

Another feature of the invention resides in mounting either the design carrying member or the reflector supporting member rotatably one with respect to the other, so as to produce a great variety of images which by reason of this movement would be constantly changing, and while I prefer to use electric lights for illuminating and constituting the design member, it is immaterial as far as the rotatable feature of the invention is concerned, whether electric devices be employed or not.

In the preferred form of the invention; I surround the lamps by compartments and if desired, the compartments of each group may be made the same shape and color, though not necessarily so.

I11 carrying out the color scheme, differently colored lamps may be used, or the compartments may be covered by differently colored glass, but preferably and as herein shown, the walls of the compartments themselves are painted in different, colors.

The drawings show in concrete form the preferred embodiment of the invention and also certain modifications thereof, but I do not wish to limit myself to these certain specified variations, as other changes may be made as come within the scope of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the complete device. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross sectioned view of the device to illustrate the relation of the reflectors and the design carrying member, this view being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a broken enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through the center of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a broken detail view of the end of a modified form of the invention, in which one of the parts is rotatively disposed with respect to the other, -showing one form of means for causing such rotation, and parts being broken away to better illustrate the connections between the rotatable parts. Fig. 6 is an end view of that form of the invention shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view of the wiring connections for the lights, only a few of the lamp circuits being shown in order to avoid confusion and a multiplicity of lines. Fig. 8 is a face View of the design carrying member which in this case is made with a number of vari-shaped lamp compartments or pockets, and the color scheme of these compartments may be arranged to suit different requirements and conditions. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical view of the images reflected by the mirrors as when set at an angle-of 45 degrees. Fig. 10 is a like view of the reflections when the mirrors are placed at an angle of 30 degrees. Fig. 11 is a detail view of a slight modification.

' In the several views, the same reference characters designate corresponding parts.

The body, casing, or shell 1 of the device is preferably of tubular form and the ends 2 of the casing are preferably made in the form of removable caps as illustrated so as to permit ready access to the interior of the casing. The casing is supported upon a stand 3 or in any convenient manner, according to the use and location for which it is designed. A peep hole or sight opening 4 may be provided in the front end wall of the casing and a hinged flap or door 5, in the rear end of the casing, permits access to the wiring for the lamps without necessitating a removal of the cap constituting such rear end.

A back plate or socket holder 6 is mounted near the rear end of the casing and while this socket holder is preferably held in the end cap so as to be removable therewith, it may also be applied directly to the casing. This socket or supporting member carries any number of sockets 7 which receive the lamps 8, and this socket member is also a design supporting member, since it carries upon its front face the design which is visible through the sight opening. This design may be formed in a number of ways, but it is preferably done by inclosing the lamps in compartments 8 as illustrated, these compartments usually being made in curvilinear shapes of artistic design.

The compartments are arranged in groups, each group of itself constituting a complete design, and all the groupstogether, or any number of groups together, also forming a complete design. When the design is made in some other way than by means of the compartments, this same idea is preferably followed out, that is, to have a number of separate and independent designs, each complete in itself and all or any of them making a complete display. Other ways of carrying out this design idea would be by using colored lamps, by spacing, or otherwise arranging the lamps in certain design-producing relation, or by covering the compartments with lass or other transparent material of di erent colors. The simplest and preferred manner of producing the color effect is by coloring the walls of the compartments themselves and the carrying out of the idea is well illustrated in Fi 8, wherein the compartments of each in ependent design groups are of the same color, though if found desirable, the compartments of a group may be painted in different colors. It will be evident that by changing the number, color and shape of the design groups, many varied and artistic effects may be produced. The lamps of each group are usually connected so as to flash in unison and an examination of Fig. 7 will illustrate how this is accomplished. Here the current is conducted from the mains 9 through the leaders 10, to each group of lamps, tlielamps of each set or group being all connected to the same leaders, so as to flash together. Still more varied effects may be produced by arranging different connections for the lamps, as for instance,

to cause certain groups to flash in unison, or with one group one time and with another group the next time.

In order to cause an irregular flashing of the lamps, arbitrary selective devices are included in the lamp circuits and for this purpose I prefer to use thermo-tlashers as indicated diagrammatically at 11. It would probably be desirable to have certain of the lamps burn steady so as to show u all the time, and to do this the wiring or these lights would be connected direct' to the mains. The central light of the design illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is of this steadyburning character and is shown direct connected with the mains.

\Vhere the parts are stationary, the mains would be led right to the back of the, design carrying member, but where one of the members is rotatable, as is the case shown in Figs. 5 and 6, sliding contacts would have to be provided for the rotatable member. In said figures, the design supporting member is the rotatable element while the body proper remains stationary, but this arrangement could be reversed if found desirable. In this construction, the end of the casing is of reduced diameter and shouldered at 12, against which shoulder abuts the inner end of the annular sleeve member 13, which is itself shouldered at 14. The support for the design carrying member is in the form of a cap as before and this cap fits over the sleeve, making slidable engagement therewith. The inner end of the cap has an annular flange 15 which abuts against the shoulder on the sleeve member and the ring member 16, which preferably makes screwthreaded engagement with the sleeve member, has an annular retaining flange 17, which engages the flange 0n the cap, and hold the cap in place. While this is a very simple and practical way of mounting one member rotatably with respect to the other, other ways of mounting the two members may be devised. Any desired means may be employed for rotating the design supporting member, such as clock work, hand power, or a Water motor, but I prefer to use a small electric motor for this purpose as shown at 1.8, and the motor may have connections with the design supporting member by means of a belt, chain, or by means of gears, as illustrated in the drawings, the rotatable member in this latter case having a cogged rim 19, which is engaged by driven gear or gears. The electrical connection for the rotatable member consists of a pair of rings 25 carried on the back of the rotatable element, the lighting branches being led ofi' from these rings and the current being conducted to the rings from the source of supply 26, by means of suitable brushes 27. The wiring for this arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The reflectors or mirrors 20 are mounted longitudinally in the casing and either one or both of the reflectors are preferably adjustably mounted so that the angle between the two maybe readily altered. Only one of the reflectors is shown as being soadjustably mounted in the drawings, this one being supported by a hinge connection 21, and clamping means are employed for holding the -reflector in adjusted position. These means may take the form of clamping screws 22, which are engaged on the threaded studs 23 and clamp direct against the shell of the device, the studs working through the circumferential slots 24, in the wall of the casing. Other means may be employed for clamping the reflector or reflectors in adjusted relation.

I have found by experience that where the color efl'ect is produced simply by coloring the walls of the pockets, at a distance the colors become lost and are not apparent to the eyes, the design showing only as a group of lights. To remedy this, the outer ends of the lamps may be silvered or blackened as shown at 28 in Fig. 11, the end of the lamp itself then constituting a reflector which concentrates the light against the walls of the pocket and greatly strengthens the color.

I have found that when the reflectors are set at an angle of degrees apart, a four sided design is produced, made up of eight sections, each part or side of the design thereby occupying an angle of 90 degrees. The true design then forms only an eighth part of the whole figure or a one half part of each quarter section or side of the figure.

When the angle of the reflectors is varied, this same relation continues. Thus in the illustration, Fig. 10, where the reflectors are set at an angle of 30 degrees apart, a six sided figure is shown, each side or part constituting two sections and each of these sections being a counterpart of the true design. In order, however, to produce a true symmetrical figure, the reflectors must be set at an angle which is an aliquot part of 360 degrees and the figure produced has as many symmetrical and equal sides as twice the angle is divisible into 360 degrees, or a simpler way of stating the rule would be; the contemplated design will have as many symmetrical and equal parts as the angle of inclination between the reflectors is divisible into 180 degrees. It will be apparent that by simply changing the angle of the reflectors, innumerable symmetrical shapes and designs may be produced. Instead of using true mirrors for the reflectors, I find that blacking the rear face of a sheet of glass or other transparent material serves as well.

What is claimed is 1. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a member having longitudinal reflectors and a design carrying member having a plurality of independent designs, each of which or any number of which forms a complete display, of means for rotating the des gn carrying member with relation to the other member. Y

2. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a member having longitudinal reflectors and a socket carrying member, lamps carried by the socket member forming designs, of means for rotating one member with relation to the other.

3. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a member having longitudinal reflectors, and a socket carrying member, lamps carried by the socket member and forming designs, of means for rotating the socket carrying member with relation to the other member.

4. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with longitudinal reflectors, one of said reflectors being hinged along one edge, of means for varying the angular relation of the reflectors comprising threaded studs on the hinged reflector projecting through slots in the body of the kaleidoscope, and clamping screws on said threaded studs.

5. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a design carrying member, of relatively fixed and movable reflectors, and means for altering the relation of the reflectors with respect to each other comprising studs on the movable reflector projecting through slots in the body of the kaleidoscope, and clamping screws on said studs.

6. In a kaleidoscope, the combination of a design member provided with multi-colored compartments, lamps in said compartments, electrical connections for the lamps, and reflectors operatively disposed with respect to the design member.

7. In a kaleidoscope, the combination of a design member, means for illuminating either the entire design member or certain parts thereof, and reflectors for the design member.

S. A member having variously shaped compartments, means for illuminating all or certain of said compartments, and adjustably mounted reflectors operatively disposed with respect to the compartment. member.

9. A kaleidoscope comprising a compartment member, lamps in the compartments of said member, electrical connections, means for flashing any or all of the lamps, and reflectors operatively disposed with respect to the compartment member.

10. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a member carrying distinct designs, and means for independently illuminating the designs, of reflectors, and means for adjusting the reflectors to Vary the number of reflected images.

11. In a kaleidoscope, the combination of a. member divided up into a number of compartments, lamps in the compartments, electrical connections. for the lamps, reflectors operatively disposed with relation to the lamps, and means operatlvely dlsposed wlth respect to the com artment member for causing irregular flas mg of the lamps 1n the various compartments.

12. In a kaleidoscope, the combination of a member having diflerentlycolored and variouslyshaped compartments, lamps 1n the compartments, electrical connections, means for flashing the lamps in groups, and reflectors operatively disposed with respect to the compartment member.

13. A display device comprislnga memher having groups of designs, means for causing irregular illumination of the different groups of designs,and reflectors for the design member.

14. In' a kaleidoscope, the combination with a socket member having a number of,

distinct designs, lamps in the sockets, electrical connections, and means for irregularly causing illumination of the lamps of each design, of longitudinal reflectorsfor the designs.

15. In a kaleidoscope, the comblnation with a member having longitudinal reflectors therein, a pivot mounting for one of the reflectors, and means for securing said reflector in any adjusted position comprising studs carried by said pivoted reflector proj ecting through the body of the kaleidoscope, and clamping means on the studs to engage the body of the kaleidoscope.

16. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a socket member, lamps carried thereby, and electrical connections from the lamps, of automatic arbitrary selecting devices in the electric circuit for flashing the lamps, and longitudinal reflectors for the lamps. I

17. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a design member carrying lamps which constitute the designs and a supporting member rotatively disposed one with respect to the other, of reflectors carried by the supporting member, and means foradjusting the angular relation between the reflectors. 1

18. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a design member having a number of designs which singly or in groups form complete display effects, of reflectors operatively disposed with respect to the design member, the design member and reflectors being rotatably mounted one with respect to the other, and means for rotating one of said members.

19. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a design carrying member having a number of independent designs which singly or in any number form complete display effects, of a supporting member, means for rotating one of the members, adjustable reflectors carried by the supporting member,

and means for adjusting the angular relawith a socket member carrying a design, of

lamps carried by the socket member said lamps having inwardly reflecting surfaces on the outer ends or tips thereof, and compartments carried by the socket 'member within which the lamps are seated.

22. In a kaleidoscope, the combination of a socket member and lamps carried thereby, electricalconnections from the lamps, selecting devices in the electrical connections for flashing the lamps, and longitudinal reflectors for the lamps.

23. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a design carrying member having a" plurality of independent designs any one of which. or any number of which constitute a com lete display effect, of a supporting mem er, adjustable reflectors carried by said supporting member and operatively disposed with respect to the design carrying member, means for adjusting the angular relation of the reflectors to vary the number of reflected images, means for rotating one of the members, and means for causing irregularillumination of the diflerent desi s..

24. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with lamps which form a design or designs, of reflectors operatively disposed with respect to said lam s.

25. In a kaleldoscope, the combination with lamps which form a design or designs, means for flashing the lamps to form different designs, of reflectors operatively disposed with respect to said lamps.

26. In combination, a deslgn carrying member, a supporting member, adjustable reflectors carried by said supporting mem her in operative relation to the design carrying member, means for adjusting the angular relation of the reflectors to vary the number of reflected images, means for rotating one of the members, and means for causing irregular illumination of the designs.

27. A kaleidoscope comprising a compartment member, lamps in the compartments of said member, electrical connections to the lamps, means for flashing any or all of the lamps, and a reflector operatively disposed with respect to the compartment member.

28. The combination in a kaleidoscope, of a design member provided with colored compartments, lamps mounted in said com- York in the county of New York and State partments and having inwardly reflecting of'New York this 30th day of June A. D. surfaces on the outer ends or tips thereof 1908.

to reflect the light back into the compart- WILLIAM NELSON MGCOMB. ments, electrical connections to the lamps, Witnesses: d and means for flashing the lamps. WILLIAM J; PITMAN,

Signed at No. 164 East 118th street, New AXEL V. BEEKEN. 

